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Primark, which is owned by conglomerate Associated British Foods, said it had conducted “extensive research” before deciding to expand into the US.

George Weston, chief executive of ABF, said: “We think the combination of up-to-date fashion and great price points in a good shopping environment will be attractive to US shoppers.”

Mr Weston said that H&M, Uniqlo and Zara had demonstrated that international clothing retailers can prosper in the US.

“We don’t open in hope they will be successful, we do it when the offer is right,” Mr Weston said of Primark’s international expansion.

The move across the Atlantic will initially cost about £1m to £2m, but Mr Weston said Primark is prepared to invest “a lot” if the shop in Boston proves successful.

Primark will open in the Burnham Building in the heart of the city towards the end of 2015. Primark is in talks to open further stores in the north east of the US in 2016.

The retailer already operates in nine countries in Western Europe and James Grzinic, retail analyst at Jefferies, said: “Primark’s compelling offer should resonate as strongly there as it has across Europe, even if the early stages of the launch – supported by dedicated warehousing – may not be helpful to margins.”

In the half-year to March 1, Primark, which has 269 stores in the UK and Europe, enjoyed like-for-like sales growth of 4pc. Revenues grew to £2.3bn while operating profits rose from £237m to £298m.

This helped ABF report a 6pc rise in pre-tax profits to £434m.

This was despite a 22pc fall in sugar revenues and a slump in operating profit to £64m from £162m due to lower prices. ABF said lower sugar prices would result in a “substantial reduction” in profit from sugar for the full year, with the strong pound also weighing down international results.

However, shares in ABF rose 9pc to £29.68 in early trading on Wednesday.

The group expects retail profits to be well ahead of expectations, meaning that overall profits will still be similar to 2013.

Jon Copestake, retail analyst at The Economist Intelligence Unit, said: “The growth of Primark has been in inverse proportion to European and North American consumer confidence as its brand of affordable apparel has appealed to increasingly polarised consumers looking for bargains.

“As a result, while other firms have looked to emerging markets such as China for growth, Primark’s growth has come domestically and through struggling markets in Europe.”